Counter and ejector for packaging machines



Jlily 1932- B. D. GREENLAW I COUNTER AND EJECTOR FOR.PACKAGINGJ MACHINES I Filed May 14. 1931 2 Sheets-Shae}.

INVENTOR.' ,BurpeeD. Green law,

A TTORNEY.

y 1932- B. D. GREENLAW 1,868,201

COUNTER AND EJECTOR FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed May 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 19, 1932 PATENT m m Y gunman n-ennnittaw, or FITGHBUBG, ilrAssncnusnr rs,'Assrenoero 'rnn nn own \BAG FILLING- MiacHI-N COMPANY, on FITGHBURG,- MASSACHUSETTS; A cenroma TEON OF MASSACHUSETTS I con nr'salann macroa n momemejmcamas I '7 I m ati n med-mafi ieaifserial N6.[537,467.

The invention relates to packaging machines and particularly to such machines adapted for "pacl'zagi'ng of nails, screws and the like. In such machines the most practicable' feed and counting arrangements have included inclined chutes or slots across which the heads of the nails, screws, or other objects lie, 'Whilethe" shanks of-the articles hang pendant through the slot. In the count and packaging means, there is usually a means to stop the-Wholebody of articles or stock intheslot near the discharge end, and V at a distance further from the point of discharge a second stop means operable so that 5 when thefirst is in cleared position, the second holds' theremainder of the stock While that portion (called the charge) between the stops moves from the chute; In the use of many prior machines 'the'nurnber of operations Was limited by. the time-'required for gravity to overcome the inertia offthe charge and move it'the required distance into the package. Ithas been attempted to reduce this time factor bydorming multiple chutes in which a comparatively few articles arereleased from each of a number of slots simultaneously. 1 But this multiplies the cost, size,

Weight, andcom'pleiiity of mechanism and in volves a new increment of delay in the need for greater distance and time in bringing to a central discharge point all of the articles fror'nthe numerous chutes. Mean'salso has been provided to eject the charge positively (one being shown in the patent to Barter,

1,164,975) and it isa purpose of this inven tion to present; anyimp'roved means to this end. i

of clearer or ejector device for use in such machines. v I it 1' Addit onal ob ects,advantages and features of inv-ention'reside in the construction,

following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure '1 is atop view of a chute, charge forming and discharge mechanism embody? myinvention, With partsbroken away};

shown at discharge position;

'It is a further aim to present a novel form T Figure 2 is similar iew, with the a-a Figure 3 is a horizontal semen of theicarriage in initial position. V

Figure it is an elevation from Figure 1;

Figure 5 Figure 1. r

Figure 6 is a crosssectioii ofthe meeha 1115111. i a

arm 59, as viewed from the right ofilfjgare 4. -Figure 8 is a formal showing ofthe'ca'm drivefor' the arm'63, the armbeing broken away before the cam. i l r Reference is' made to the the right or is a similar vi-evv from the left of to Figure 7 "is a fragment'ary'eflevation of the, v mounting ai'id operatingconnection of the V ea-1a to Cummings, 539,171, May l l, 1885 andtofBarte'i,

1,164,975, for familiar details ofconstructionand to such 'machinesas new in uses There 1s illustrated a part'of a nailc'ounting and packaging machine including anail chute 11, by 'which they are fed 'tO'thecount-I ing and packaging mechanism: Thepa'ckaging mechanismfmay' include any 'eo'ristruction suitable for holding a cont-ainr tb re.

ceive the nails to be packaged; a

A l'unnel moves into 'positionjinthe receptacle when the charge is i to be introduced 7 into the receptacle, asin Cummings or Barter.- "a

' This machine also includes a main driving shaft substantially as in the patent to cum mings, upon which a gang: ofc'ams, cranks and pulleys or sprockets-are"mountedfits required for peculiar funotions involved in adapting the machinefto various uses.

j The nail chutejllmay be of such form as to adapt the machine to particular-articles,

1 several such forms'being known; In the present instance it comprisesltwo rails ll With opposed flanges 15, the rails being-fixed sufficiently spaced apart to afford aslot 16 between the flanges 15Jof :suflicient Width to receive loosely the i'pendant shanks of the nails 17 to be packaged, 'Whilethe headset the nails rest; upon the respective rails slidably. There has been disclosed iinithe above patent pto Barter (Figuresss to, 8),- 'a count device consisting of alternately operi below the stop 19,so asto regulate the count.

ated detents numbered in the patent 58 and y '68 operated by a cam arm having parts numbered in that patent 64 and 73, which arm may be utilized here. The prior lower de-' tent is. replaced here by a gate 20, which is raised instead of sliding back to open the I chute. H The upper detent or stop19 consists of a bearing 21, in which a rock 'shaft22 is mount ed. The shaftprojects over the slot l6 and carries .affinger spring 23 having a lower end toward the discharge end of the chute adapt ed to bear upon the chuteacrossthe slot, and

beinglongitudinally adjust-able. so that its stop end may be adjusted as required. This adjustment 23 may be utilized to vary the I number of'n'ails in the charge, with other I adjustments, On the'outer orlefthand end of the shaft 22 there is'a wiper arm 24,

carrying a wiper roller 25, bearing upon the oscillating cam segment 18 corresponding to the cam; 63%64 of; Barter" patent .mentloned,

mounted on anarin by which it is operated 1 to beprojected forwardly to an extreme position and immediately retracted once for. every 1 filling operatiomwith an interval of rest at "its rear nostposition, This cam is formed with a low-portion 27 extending over its major forward part, and a highpa-rt 28 at its rearm'ost parti The roller bears constant- 7 1y] onthis cam by action of the spring29, and

ejarm 24 isdirected rearwardly, so that I -with the finger 23in raised position when 7 of the shaft may comprise ears 31' projected the roller engages the low part of the cam,

"forward movement of thecam and engage- Vment of the high part-with the roller will move the finger23 to closed position, preventing movement of nails from that point down the slot while the charge is ejected.

,1 Itjisjgafter this closing movement of the finger 23 but while it remains closed that the gate 20 operates as will be explained.

, Theflgate 20 (FiguresL 2 and 6) consists ofaf gatesha'ft, mounted on the outer side of theleft hand-rail of the'chute to rock on an axis parallel to the chute The mounting from a mounting block 32 fixed beside the chute.- The shaft has secured thereon a plate 33,, which in closed position of the gate lies "closely over the upper sideof the block 32. The 'topof the plate 33 in this position lies in approximatelythe same plane with the tops of the chute rails 14, and on the-topof the plate there is adjustable the gatefinger 36,, which extends sufiicientlyto lie across the I slot 16 close upon or over thetop surfacesof the'rails. Thefinger 36 has a base portion 37 at right'angles thereto formedwith a longitudinal slot through which there is engaged a clamp screw 38 engaged inone-of a longi tudinal series of threaded: holes 39 in the plate 33-. The slot and the holes enable the finger to be adjusted at -any desired distance The form and time of movement of the cam 18 are such that the gate is in closed position before the upper or first stop is lowered to the slot 16, and is opened after a short in-' terval before the upper stop is againraised. The shaft 30 is provided with a downward- 1y extended arm 40 engagedby a spring 35,:

tending to move the arm and the gate piece to closedposition, where the spring holds "the gate'except during the short interval ofdischarge of the charge as will be'described." The arm 40 is close beside the cam 18'and on the latter a lateral inclined cam piece 41 is adjustably mounted which; when the cam 18 is near the extreme forward position engages the, arm '40 and operatesthe gate, opening it only during the terminal forwardmovement and initialrearward movement of the cam 18, I

the arm'being of a width for the campart to remain in engagement with the left side thereof holding the gate open duringthese movements mentioned.: I I p v 7 On the right handside of the chute, a slideway 43 is provided comprisingaebase block having on itsupper sidea central longitudinal dove-tail channel therein parallel-to th e chute 11, and in this thereislretziprocable the carriage block 44. This blo'ck :has a. raised transverse part at its'forward end channelled ion the upper side at right angles to the and receiving slidably a bolt 45 square in cross section carrying at its left end a clearingfinger'46 projectable oven the slot 16close below the finger 23, where it extends when'the bolt. is at the left limit of its movement and in;

initial position of the block 44. The bolt is retained in the block by a cover plate 47 fastened on the block and having a slot 48therein over the bolt in which slot there is reciprocable a stud fixed on the'bolt and having a roller 49 thereon. The bolt channel in the block opens on both right and left sides of the block and is closed by downtur'ned ends of the cover plate. The bolt is formed at the right hand end with a reduced stem projected slidably through a corresponding aperture in the plate 47 having'a helical protractile has an arm 54 projected toward the right hand side of the carriage over the raised. side of the slideway, and movable to release and engage the bolt. The latch and its spring 55 are mounted on a narrowed extension 56 of the carriage which is also of lower height than thetransverse channelled part firstflmen-i tioned. Two vertical guide armsv 57 are mounted on the extension perpendicular to the plane ofthe blockir They arexformed tegrally as an inverted U-shaped piece hav ing the extremitiessecured to the-face'of the extension 56. Between these guides there is engaged a horizontal arm 58 projectedtransversely over the carriage and spaced from the highside of the slideway, comprisinga continuation of .a lever 59 formed on the right end of ahorizontal shait 60 mounted rocklever 59 'i s positively operated in both'directions of its movement. At the upper end of the slide, a latch-release strike 64 is secured adjustablelongitudinally ofthefp ath of the carriage. Its front. end is arranged to. engage tl'lefi'llfifi lbf the latch so as to release the bolt 45 when thefing'er 46 is alined immediately below the stop end of the finger 23. The strike comprises a simple plate slotted longitudinally of the slide and held on therraised side or" the slide by a screw 65, the lower end of the plate being upturned to engage the arm of the latch.

At thelower end of the slidethere is fixed a cam plate 66 having an edge parallel to the major plane of the slide but inclined from the lower part toward the left across the path of the knob 49 of the bolt 45, so that as the carriage passes overthe last partof its path through the lastpart of the downward movement, the knob strikes the plate 66' and is moved to fully retract the bolt before the block reaches the lower limit of its movement. When the bolt is retracted the latch 52 again engages the bolt 45 to hold the bolt retracted until it again reaches the upper position; 1

In operation, the slot 16 being supplied with nails, with the gate finger 36 closed across the slot, the finger 23 is: raised to permit nails to slide by gravity down the slot (any familiar mechanical device for moving stock may be used) until checked by the gate finger 36 after an interval which may comprise a very substantial part of the period for each filling operation of the ma chine. The finger 23 is then lowered to stop position. During this time the carriage has been at some lower part of its movement after.

engagement of the cam plate 66, and at, or

immediately after-the movement when the finger 23 is lowered,the operation of the lever 59 is effected. This: operation may be a simple oscillation efi'ected rapidly, the clearing movement being especially intended to be of short duration,.so that the charge will be projected from the chute at considerable speed, and if desired, the return movement of the carriage may be much slower. The rapid clearing stroke of the lever 59 occurs during 'the 'movement' of the high cam part the lateral cam 41on thea-rm 40l" Thecam '28unde'r the roller 25,;ar1d the operation of 1 41 engages thearrn 40. of the gate and raises I the linger '36 just before' the; clearing finger This downward or discharge movement ofthe finger'46 is completed whilethe laterahcain 46 begins "its, downward movement.

ingfinger can enter between nailsinthe chute without the aid of the upper finger 23. The clearing action is so rapid that an appreciable gap is formed below the" stock' which advances past the upper detent, at-

fording a sufficient-interval for closing of the gate before fresh stock-becomes interposed.

The mounting of the'l'ever59 comprises a horizontal sleeve rockab-ly mounted trans versely beneath the chute and receiving the int-urned lower extremity or shaft 60 of the lever 59 revolubly therein.'.-A set screw 68 utilized to secure the shaft" 60 to thesleeve. The sleeve is pivoted in a bearing 69, and at the side of the bearing opposite the lever 59 has the depending arm 61 longitudinally slotted; Thewrist pin 62 ,is'mounted slidably in this slot andsecured adjustably to the arm 61, being also engagedslidably in .the-upper'slotted end of the arm 63 adapted to be operated 'from the main shaft of the machine to oscillate atthe desired intervals.

The arm 63 may be mounted and operated by acam'70 substantially as indicatedin Figure 8.

' The movement of'the clearing pin along the chute may be lengthened by looseningthe' set screw 68, swinging the lever 59 toward the high end of the chute,-tightening the sets'crew and then adjusting the wrist pin :62 higherin the slot of the arm 61$ The reason forthe use of the sleeve 67 and set screw 68 will be understood to be the fact that mere/adjust 'ment of the wristpin 62 will lengthen the stroke of the arm 59 so as to cause it to swing a too far toward the lower end of the chute, hence the need for adjustment ofthe arm toward the h e f'the chutewhen th 1'20 stroke is lengthened, "Similarly ifth'e stroke is shortened; it is necessary to use theset screw 68 toadjust the arm towardthe1l0wer.

end'of the chute so asto insure complete clearing movement. A .Icla'imr' 1. In a counting and discharge device for packaging machines and the like comprising .a stock chute," agate adjacent-the delivery end of the chute, means to operate the gate intermittently for opening and closing the sam ac fri ge r c pro a e' p a le to he chute,ajclearer thereon projectable toengage stock in the chute; and-retractabletherefrom,

means to adjust the, gate longitudinally of the;chute, means to retract the clearer at the outer'limit of movement of the carriage, means including a,member I adjustable longi; tudinally of the chute to-projectthe clearer to engage stock inthechuteat any predetermined distance from the gate, and means to .vary the extent ofmovement of the carriage.

2.;In combination in a counting and discharge device for packaging machines, a

stock "chute,,a carriage: reciprocable parallel to the chute, a clearer thereonprojectable to engage stock in the chute and retractable I therefrom, means toiretract the clearer at the means including a member adjustable longi-' outer limit of movement of the carriage,

tudinally of vthe chute to project the clearer, means to vary, the extent of movement of the carriage inwardffrom a given outer limit, a

' gate forfstock in the chute comprising a rock shaft beside thechute, a finger secured adjustably thereon I for adjustment 'longitudi nally of the chute, an arm'on the shaft, means movement of the free end of said stud with the carriage. I

5. In a mechanism of the character at; I scribed, a stock chute,xdetents spaced lon-r gitudinally thereof alternately operable to holdand release stock for longitudinal move ment outwardly, a. reciprocating clearingdeviceconstructed tobeprotracte'd' across the I 7 stock path when at the upper limit of its; 1

movement and to be retracted at the lower limit of movement, means adjustable longi tudinally of the chute to 'protract the clearing device, means, atthe lower end ofthe chute to retract the clearing device, andmeans to reciprocate tlie'clearing device. w

6; The structure of cl 1m 5 1n wh ch the 1 last named means comprises a variable stroke device andmeansto adjust the stroke thereof,

7. The structureof claim 5in' which the last named means comprises'a variablestroke device and means to adjust the stroke thereof, to vary one limit of movement only.

. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

D. VGRE ENLAW. I

to reciprocate the carriage, and a cam. operableito jeng'age the arm to:open thezgate at v the beginning of outward movement. of said carriage, and to permit closing of the gate at the termination of outward-movement of I thecarriage.

In co charge device for packaging machines, a stock chute, a carriage reciprocable parallel to the V chute, a clearer thereon' projectable to engage bination ina counting and dis- 'stock in thechute and retractable therefrom, I

means to retract the clearer at the outer limit of movement of the carriage, means includa' member adjustable longitudinally of the chute toproject the clearer, means to vary the extent ofmovement of the carriage-in- Wardfr'om a given outer limit, a gate for "stock in the chute, comprising a 'movable cured'thereon adjustably for adjustment I longitudinally of the chute, and means to J ,59

member: having a finger thereon movable into andoutof the path of stock, said finger being separate from the. movable member and se- I move, the, movable member for operation of the finger within the limits named.

4. chargeclearer for machines of the character described comprising a chute, a

' guideway-parallelto the chute, a carriage I 55 the other limit of movement of the carriage and; having apart inclined the path of 

